MISBEHAVING COLT PYTHON

[glassman]

I recently bought a royal blue 4" python which was made in 1994. I brought it home, cleaned it real well and the following saturday, took it to the range. In 50 rounds of Remington range loads, I had 2 misfires which did go bang when reloaded. I asked around and got varied opinions. Some suggested that the main spring may have been tweeked for a smoother trigger pull thus causing a weak strike. Others said it may be a low spot in a specific chamber in the cylinder(again causing a weak strike). Still others suggested changing ammo brand. I took it to the range again today and again used remington range loads(different lot #) and again there were more misfires. I marked the chambers with a sharpie pen..but found that the misfires were coming from different chambers on the cylinder. I finally figured out that the misfires occured when firing in double action but didn't occur when fired in single action. One of the misfires didn't have a strike mark on the primer. any clues from the gunsmiths out there?

 

[Jim Watson]

Take off the sideplate and look inside. The old Colt DA action uses a "V" spring. The top leg to the hammer should be straight or a shallow curve. If it has a pronounced "rafter" bend in the middle, it has been weakened by cocking the gun with a rod through the spring. Replace the spring if you want to shoot anything but Federal ammunition.

Plan B. With the hammer cocked and out of the way, poke the firing pin forward. It should be lightly spring loaded to the rear. If its spring is crushed, letting it float forward before the hammer drops, that will lead to misfires, too. Replace it if it does not hold the firing pin back to be hit by the hammer.

If it is not one of those, both of which I have seen, I am out of ideas.

 

[Jenrick]

Not even a strike mark? Possibly something with the transfer bar?

-Jenrick

 

[glassman]

THANKS JIM AND JENRICK

Jim, I'm a bit afraid to take the side plate off this gun because the cylinder release is part of that plate. I've never taken any guns apart other than an army .45 or m16(20 mm aircraft cannons don't count in this discussion)and am a little afraid I may do more harm than good. Don't want to have to take the pieces to a gunsmith in a paper bag! I did take the stocks off and there is a mild upturn in the top leaf of the main spring as you described but no acute bend. There is also a slight hump in that upper leaf about half way down. The firing pin spring is in tact and pushes firmly in a rearward direction.

Jenrick, When i saw the lack of a strike mark on that round, I immediately thought about the transfer bar but don't have a clue as to what to do about it!!

Maybe the best thing to do is take it to the shop and let a qualified smith work his magic. I already love this revolver and want it to work the way it's designed to.

Thank both of you guys for taking the time to respond.

 

[saltydog452]

I have two Pythons and haven't had this problem.

If you bought yours used, maybe someone has tinkered with it. If you send it to a 'smith, be aware that not everyone who hangs out a gunsmithing shingle, is capable of working on the Colt Python internals.

Check around to find a 'smith that can do more than put on recoil pads and telescope mounts.

You might also consider calling Colt and letting them do the work.

salty.

 

[glassman]

SALTYDOG

I was thinking that very thing..might take a while to get it back from colt though. I can rent 'till it comes back and get a chance to test fire my 'next purchase". Feeling the urge for an auto. Maybe the M&P9c.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well first of all, the Python has a hammer block, not a transfer bar safety. They both do the same job, but they do it differently. If the block is out of place the action would likely freeze up and not move. This is not the likely cause of your problem.

I suspect the mainspring. The give-away is that it misfires in double-action but seems to work in the single-action mode. This is because the hammer stroke is longer so the hammer hits harder.

Another possible (but unlikely) cause is a broken firing pin or mashed firing pin spring.

Occasionally you get a soft mainspring, or one that has been tweeked to much to give a "perfect" double action that becomes too good when the spring takes a set. The solution is to replace the spring, which isn't particularly difficult or expensive. The trouble is finding a gunsmith who is qualified to work on a Python. If such a 'smith isn't available I'd consider returning the revolver to Colt. If the manspring is defective I think they'll fix it, and anything else that might require attention, for free. Given the nature of the problem I don't think turn-around time would be long.

 

[chris allen]

python

Replace the hammer spring .

You have a shorted hammer fall on double action than single so less energy being transfered.

Cheap and easy to do.

 

[Jim K]

Many Pythons came out of the factory with mainsprings that had been bent to try to get a better DA trigger pull. Some did what yours is doing. You can try tweaking it yourself, but I recommend replacing the spring, admitting that it will never have a DA pull like a Smith & Wesson, and shooting it.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

Glassman, this is not brain surgery. You might have to buy a book from the NRA or Krause to learn how to take off the sideplate and get the mainspring out and back in (or the firing pin spring) - the manufacturers assume their customers don't know anything about guns except a lawyer's phone number - and no longer provide proper instructions - but it can be done by the user.

A takedown book and a set of gunsmith's screwdrivers to fit the sideplate screws will cost a darn sight less than shipping it off to Colt or John Q. Gunsmith.

 

[LittleLebowski]

If you're feeling the need for an Glock 34, let me know.